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the week; but the man of business should be well convinced of the necessity of such works, and not wantonly expose himself to the resentment of God, by refusing to return him one poor day of tribute, for six of profit and pleasure!

Sickness we may presume to be a sufficient plea; but we are not to call every trifling indisposition by that name, and suppose, that if our finger does but ache, we rae authorized to absent ourselves from the holy temple; and whatever reasons may be alleged to excuse our attendance at church, none can dispense with our private devotions at home. Though we cannot precisely determine what particular exercises, visits, or occupations are consistent with the proper observance of the Lord's Day, or how great a portion of it every Christian is bound to consecrate to acts of piety and religion; yet, are we from thence to infer that there is nothing

wrong?-that engagements and diversions, hardly innocent upon any day, may be suffered to engross and fill up that time which is set apart for the purpose of cultivating piety and giving honour to the Almighty!—a festival founded upon so many reasons, and for such important views appropriated to God, that it is sacrilege to profane it.

Were these considerations properly examined, all ranks of men would find their advantage in the enquiry-those of high estate would see the indignity offered to, God in breaking his Sabbath, and by a religious observance of this day, encourage their inferiors to keep it holy; who, animated by their good example, would no longer waste it in idleness and debauchery, in rioting and drunkenness, but employ it in the private and public duties of religion, praising God for his goodness in granting them this respite from their

worldly cares;-all would lift up their voices to heaven in pious raptures, and cry with one accord-"This is the day "which the Lord hath made; we will "rejoice and be glad in it." That this day may ever be so received and sanctified, may God of his infinite mercy grant !

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SERMON V.

ON THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT.

EXODUS, CHAP. xx. Ver. 12.

Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

HONOUR thy father and thy mother! endearing obligation!-pleasing employment!-Nature, humanity, gratitude recommend this virtue.-Needs there a voice from heaven to enforce it?-Who violates this precept, errs against the dictates of his own heart, and subverts the whole order and course of things.

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And are there found any beings in human shape so lost to feelings—so deaf to the universal cry of nature, as to stifle this affection in its birth, and sting the bosom that cherished them? Alas! were it the vice of a few individuals only, it were better concealed from the eye of the world, that the rest of mankind might never conceive their fellow-creatures to be capable of such a crime; but, when we read in the annals of former ages of whole nations who have permitted parents to expose their offspring to die by famine, or to be devoured by wild beasts; others again, whose very laws have ordained, that the children should cast out their aged parents, and leave them to perish by want, and at a period of life when they stood most in need of assistance.Though our souls shudder at the horrid recital, and we are hardly prevailed upon to give credit to the unnatural tale, yet we can no longer wonder at this com

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